Method of testing and disinfecting drain and soil pipes



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W. S. CLARK. METHOD 0]? TESTING AND DISINFEOTING DRAIN AND SOIL PIPES.No. 404,343. Patented May 28, 1889.

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W. S. CLARK, METHOD OF TESTING AND DISINPEGTING DRAIN AND SOIL PIPES.

No. 404,343. Patented May 28, 1889.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()F QE.

WILLIAM S. CLARK, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

METHOD OF TESTING AND DISINFECTING DRAlN AND SOIL PIPES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 404,343, dated May 28,1889.

Application filed October 17, 1887. Serial No. 252,636. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. CLARK, a citizen of theUnited States,residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia'and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in theMethod of Disinfecting and Testing Drain and Soil Pipes; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a sufficiently full, clear, and exactdescription thereof as to enable others skilled in the art to makeanduse the said invention.

This invention relates to the testing and disinfecting of drain and soilpipes, and has for its object the disinfection and deodorizing of suchpipes and the detection and locating of leaks. To effect these resultsthis invention consists in a method of partially closing the inlets andbranches of such pipes and the forcing into and through them ofdisinfecting vapors or fumes and afterward closing the outlets andsubjecting the pipes to pneumatic pressure with air containing volatilesubstances, which by their odor indicate the location of the leak. Thisinvention also embraces an apparatus for conveniently and safelyconducting this process or method not claimed herein, but intended to bethe subject of another application forLetters Patent.

I will now proceed to fully and particularly describe the apparatus,method, and operation for conducting this process, referringin so doingto the annexed drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a building in verticalsection, having soil and drain pipes, to which this apparatus and methodare applied. Fig. 2 shows a section of a pipe end with a plug applied.Figs. 3 and 4 show the parts of the plug in section separately. Fig. 5shows a section of the air-forcing and fumigating apparatus; and Figs. 6and 7 show modification of the fumigating or disinfecting. apparatus invertical section.

The same letters of reference and ordinals indicate the same parts inthe several figures.

A represents a soil-pipe united by bell and spigot joints A, leaded andcalked in the usual manner and having branches, A for receivingdrainage, and the usual trap, A and outlet A to the common sewer orculvert.

' B are stoppers inserted in the inlets A and outlet A.

The stopper B consists of a circular plug of metal, B, having a flange,B and a cap, B provided with a rim, B fitting around the plug B. A tube,B provided with a screwthread, B, is fitted into the plug B and extendsthrough the cap B where it is provided with a nut, B fitting on thescrew-thread B. An elastic packing ring or band of india-rubber, B fitsaround the plug B, between the flange B and the rim B of the cap B andwhen the nut B is screwed against thecap B the rim B and flange B canpress the ring B in the direction of its axis and cause it to expanddiametrically and fit and close the inlet or outlet in which it isinserted. The tube B is provided with a stop-cock or valve, B", having asuitable screw-thread or other termination adapted to connect the tubes.

0 is an air-pump consisting of a cylinder, 0, and piston 0 inlet-valve Cand outletvalve 0 The out-let-valveis provided with a stop-cock, Cterminating in atWo-branched tuba-(J one of which branches is connectedwith a manometer or pressure-gage, O and the other branch with a tube, 0leading to one of the stop-cocks B on one of the plugs B inserted in abranch, A of the soil-pipe A to be fumigated and tested. Connected withthe inlet-valve C is a fumigating chamber or vessel, D, having anair-inlet, D, at the upper portion, a perforated Vessel, D filled withan absorbent material, D such as spongeand a perforated tube, D leadingto the branch D connected to the inlet-valve C of the pump 0.

The perforated vessel D is removable and can be replaced by a vessel forburning sulphur, as shown in Fig. 6, or by a vessel'for holding volatilefluids, as shown in Fig. 7, instead of the saturated sponge D Theprocess of disinfecting and testing with this apparatus is as follows:The plugs B are inserted in the branchesA and outlets A and the nuts Btightened, so as to expand the packing B The disinfecting-fluid isintroduced in the vessel D, and air drawn through it and forced throughthe tube 0 and out of the stop-cocks B until the escaping 'air'passingfrom the other stop-cocks B indicates by its odor that thedisinfectingagent has reached that part. All of the stop-cocks 13*,except that connected with the tube C are then closed, and thepump isoperated until the desired-pressure is indicated by the manometer C Thestop-cock C is then closed, and if the manometer shows a continuance ofthe full pressure the pipes A are known to be tight. If, however, thepressure is shown to subside on the manometer, an examination of thepipe A will show by the odor of the escaping disinfectant or fumigatingVapors the location of the leak, whicln'being repaired, the test isrepeated until the pressure remains constant on the manometer.

Having described. my invention, what I claim is-- through the pipes tobe tested, then closing the outlets of said pipes, and by furtherpumping establishing a static pressure of the air charged with Vapors,substantially as set forth.

WILLIAM S. CLARK.

IVitnesses:

VAN WYoK Bonn, JAMES P. PETIT.

